Strange gibberish

[ntquiterite212010]

I sometimes am aware of a voice in my head speaking utter gibberish. It does not feel as if this voice is coming from me, it feels like it is speaking TO me and I should be speaking for it. As if I should be interpreting this gibberish language. I feel the need to vocalize it. When I speak the words out loud they make no sense. I feel as if I should recognize what it is saying and be able to interpret it.

My family has a history of schizophrenia, depression, and bi-polar disorder. I have never been diagnosed with any mental illness (however I was at one time prescribed Lexapro for depression as a teenager, which I stopped taking after I realized that I wasn't depressed... I was a typical angst-y teenager). I have recently, however, been having a lot of trouble in social situations. I become anxious and I shut down, losing all will to speak and interact. Shortly thereafter I begin to feel isolated and deeply depressed. This doesn't change until I am only around people that I am mostly familiar with.

I realize that I probably have social anxiety disorder, but do I have schizophrenia?

[Peter Forster]

Thank you for your post, I am glad that you contacted me.

I think that it is worthwhile going to see a psychiatrist and getting a consultation.

Of course, it is always a good idea to find a good psychiatrist, but in this case I think that it is particularly important as there are several aspects of what you have said that suggest the need for a very careful gathering of information.

For one thing, some aspects of your story suggest that you may be having a subtle depression, and that that shift in mood might have led to the experience of the voice in your head. Teasing out the relationship between that experience and mood changes is important, and tricky. And the relationship might go both ways (mood affecting hearing the voice, hearing the voice affecting mood).

If I would you I would contact the Department of Psychiatry at UT San Antonio to arrange a consultation. That is probably the best way to get a careful and thoughtful assessment.

[ntquiterite212010]

Thank you for the advice. I saw a psychiatrist for a little while when I lived in Arkansas a few months ago but that led to lots of expensive visits and three months later he told me that there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. While this made me weary of the idea of finding another doctor, I do understand that this may not have been a very good doctor. I will take your advice and try to find a more reputable individual who may be able to give me better insight into my problems.